What are the requirements to be eligible for the Individual Investor Programme?

Can EU Citizens apply for the Individual Investor Programme?

Citizens of EU countries can apply for Maltese citizenship under the Individual Investor Programme.

Which nationalities are not eligible to participate in the IIP?

Currently, the policy of the Maltese Government excludes from applying individuals who are nationals of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), or are non-nationals but reside, do business, have significant ties with, or connections to these countries. Citizens from countries included on the US Travel Ban also cannot apply. The full list is presented below:

Afghanistan

Chad

Eritrea

Iran

Kyrgyzstan

Libya

Myanmar (known as Burma)

Nigeria

North Korea

Somalia

Sudan

Syria

Tanzania

Venezuela

Yemen

MIIPA reserves the right to update the list of banned countries from time to time. Such list will be communicated with all Agents accordingly.

Do I need to know Maltese and do I need to take a citizenship test during the process?

The Maltese language is not a requirement for naturalisation and no citizenship tests will be carried out at this time.

IIP applications can only be filed through the services of the Concessionaire or Accredited Agents duly appointed by Malta Individual Investor Programme Agency. These are listed on the Malta Individual Investor Programme Agency website.

Citizenship

When will a passport be issued and how is this issued?

Upon the receipt of the Certificate of Naturalisation, you may request your passport by providing a complete application form for a European Union Malta passport. The Concessionaire or your Accredited Agent would be able to assist you with the passport application process.

How long will the Maltese citizenship be valid for?

Once all requirements are fulfilled and the Certificate of Naturalisation has been issued, the Maltese citizenship granted would be considered as permanent.

Where will this passport be recognised?

The Maltese passport is recognised for Visa-free travel to more than 160 countries in the world, including the right of establishment in all 28 European Union countries.

Can I hold dual citizenship if I have been Naturalised as a Maltese citizen?

Yes, you can hold more than one citizenship after having been naturalised as a Maltese citizen. Malta recognises dual citizenship, however, your current country or citizenship may have restrictions.

Will children born to naturalised parents automatically become Maltese citizens?

The acquisition of citizenship occurs on the date of issue of the naturalisation certificate. Children born before this date will not automatically become Maltese citizens. Children born after this date can become Maltese citizens.

Are the names of new Maltese citizens published anywhere and if so how are they published?

The names of all persons who will have acquired Maltese citizenship in any particular year are published in the Government Gazette only once in that year.

Can the Maltese citizenship be deprived once it has been approved?

The Maltese citizenship granted under the IIP can be deprived should an applicant fail to comply with the requirements as highlighted in the Maltese Citizenship Act and Article 10 of the Legal Notice 47 of 2014.

Residence

What is an E-Residence Card and why is it necessary?

The first step in the IIP application process for Main Applicants is to apply for an E-Residency Card. This is a mandatory step. The card will entitle the applicant to establish residence status in Malta and to travel freely within the Schengen Area. Dependents can also apply for this card.

What proofs are needed to apply for an E-Residence card?

What are the fees for the E-Residence Card?

• The Main Applicant pays €5,000 on account from the €10,000 non-refundable deposit stipulated in the schedule of fees for the IIP.
• Each dependent pays an administration charge of €1,000 which is an administrative fee over and above the fees stipulated for dependents in the IIP schedule of fees.

Do applicants have to visit Malta to apply for an E-Residence Card?

Yes, Main Applicants and their dependents have to visit Malta to apply for their E-Residence Cards as they need to submit their biometric data.

Applicants aged 12 years and over have to submit biometric data in person. Applicants below 12 years can present a passport photo together with the relevant forms.

How long does the main applicant have to reside in Malta before taking the Oath of Allegiance?

Main applicants are not expected to live physically in Malta for the entirety of 12 months before taking the Oath of Allegiance. However, they are expected to present a proposal explaining how they intend to obtain a residence status in Malta, which is reviewed and approved by MIIPA

Does the Main Applicant have to give proof of residence prior to taking the Oath of Allegiance?

According to Legal Notice LN47/2014, the applicant must give proof of residence status in Malta for a minimum of 12 months prior to taking the oath of allegiance.

Are the dependants of the Main Applicant required to give the same undertaking with regards to the residence?

The residence requirement is for the Main Applicant only. In this regard, reference can be made to article 7(12) of the regulations of the IIP.

Can a Residence Permit granted for the purposes of the IIP be withdrawn if the IIP application is rejected?

Residence Permits granted solely for the purposes of the IIP may be withdrawn if the IIP application is rejected.

Documents and certification

Can documents be submitted in the jurisdiction’s native language?

The application forms and other accompanying documents shall be completed in English or, if the original language is not English, the document shall be accompanied by an authenticated translation.

Who can translate documentation for the IIP process?

A translation is to be done by either a professional translator whose primary role or business is a professional translation. In all cases, full details of the translator must be provided

What is a certified copy?

A certified copy means a photocopy of an original document certified by a duly licensed lawyer, Notary public, a Maltese consular or diplomatic officer or a senior officer of the concessionaire to be a true copy of the original.

If a person has lived in various countries, will he be obliged to get police conduct certificates from each country?

Where the applicant has resided for a cumulative period of 6 (even in intermitted periods) over the last 10 years in another jurisdiction, a police conduct from that jurisdiction would need to be provided. Police conduct certificates must be originals and not older than 6 months.

Timeframes & Fees

How long does the Individual Investor Programme (IIP) process take?

The Legal Notice specifies a minimum period of six months and a maximum period of 24 months. However, it is expected that in the majority of cases the process will take 12 months.

The Main Applicant is obliged to obtain an effective residence status in Malta for a minimum period of 12 months before becoming a Maltese citizen.

When is the Letter of Approval in Principle issued?

A Letter of Approval in Principle is issued once rigorous due diligence checks are completed. These take between four and five months.

What are the Contribution Requirements and Schedule of Fees envisaged under the IIP?

The Contribution Requirements and the Schedule of Fees payable under each application are as follows:

Contribution Requirements:

€650,000 for the main applicant €25,000 for the spouse €25,000 for each and every child below 18 years of age €50,000 for each and every dependant unmarried child between 18 and 26 years of age €50,000 for each and every dependant parent above 55 years of age

Due Diligence Fees:

€7,500 for the main applicant €5,000 for spouse €3,000 for each and every child between 13 and 18 years of age €5,000 for each and every dependant unmarried child between 18 and 26 years of age €5,000 for each and every dependant parent above 55 years of age